Chapter 33
D
arius lived his entire life on the edge. No regrets. That was the requested inscription for his tombstone. As he headed into his general practitioner’s office, he shook hands with the Grim Reaper, realizing his death might come sooner than expected. If the Lord blessed him with a negative test result, he vowed to cease his promiscuous ways. If he wasn’t so fortunate, suicide was a forgivable sin and now option number one. To ensure he wouldn’t change his mind, as soon as Wellington had left his apartment yesterday, Darius bolted a hook screw in the bedroom wall of his condo. The noose lay on his bed along with his goodbye note.
Dear Mom and Dads,
I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused. I know you worked hard to make certain I had the finer things in life. Somewhere along the way, I detoured. I didn’t mean to let you down. After today, you won’t have to worry about me. I’ll be in a better place, and you’ll be better off, so in the end everyone’s a winner.
Tell Maxine she’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. I wish I were as strong as she. She deserves a man who will respect her. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have treated her better. The one thing I’ve learned is that bad things do happen to good people like Maxine and Lawrence.
Lawrence, man, I’m sorry for kicking your ass last night. Especially since my Dad roughed you up before I did. You’re a nice guy, and if I could take back the beating, I would because you never laid your hands on me. I lost it when I saw my mom’s arm, but when I saw the stitches in her leg, I flipped out. Maybe in a way I was taking my frustrations out on you.
Wellington, you’re the greatest dad a son could have. If the paternity test proves you’re not my father, it’ll only be on paper. You’re number one in my book, man. Don’t tell Junior how I died. Just let him know his big brother is watching over him.
Mom, if you hadn’t lied to me all these years, maybe I wouldn’t be writing this letter. You’re selfish. You’ve always protected your heart but were too blind to see you were destroying everyone else’s life, especially mine. I’ve added my final rule to DL. Don’t cry for me. Cry for yourself.
Love don’t love nobody,
R.I.P. Darius Henry Jones
Holding his hand, his guardian angel, Ashlee, sat next to Darius—as promised—in the waiting room.
“It’s going to be okay,” Ashlee whispered. She lifted his hand, gently pressed her lips against the back side, and held it there for a while.
Darius mumbled, “I guess I deserve this.”
“Nonsense.” Ashlee looked into his watery eyes. “Remember when you donated ten thousand dollars of your money to your elementary school to rebuild the children’s playground. And when you missed a week from college to take care of My Dear. Although your mother told you to go back to school, you refused to leave your grandmother until she was well. And what about the time you volunteered to play Santa Claus for the kids at Children’s Hospital. That’s the Darius I know.” Ashlee placed her hand over the left side of his chest and said, “Darius Jones, you have a generous heart.”
“Yeah, but I also have a generous dick.” One that would be buried six feet under before sunset if he received bad news.
“We’ll get through this together.” Ashlee patted his knee.
The doctor’s assistant walked into the lobby. “Darius Jones.”
Darius stood. “That’s me.” Ashlee gripped his hand.
“Come with me, please.” The assistant turned to Ashlee and said, “I’m going to have to ask you to wait out here. This is confidential.”
“It’s okay. I want her to be with me,” Darius said.
“Okay, then follow me. My name is Roxanne.” The assistant held the door until everyone was inside her office. “Please, have a seat. Well, I have good news.” Roxanne smiled.
“Whew!” Darius sighed as Ashlee gave him a hug.
Roxanne’s smile disappeared. She raised her eyebrows and continued, “Bad news, and not so good news.”
Darius’s smile disappeared. Ashlee squeezed his hand.
“Which would you like first?” Roxanne asked.
“It doesn’t matter. Just tell me.” Darius stared at the floor.
“Sure.” The assistant cleared her throat. “The good news is”—she handed Darius an eight-and-a-half-by-eleven sheet of paper—“your HIV antibodies test result is negative.”
Darius leaped out of his seat, picked up Ashlee, and twirled her around in place like a ballerina. “Yes!” He wrapped his arms around Ashlee and wouldn’t let go. “Thank you for being the best friend I’ve ever had. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
Darius bowed on his knees and thanked the Lord. “I haven’t forgotten about my promise to you. Thanks for giving me another chance.”
Roxanne cleared her throat. “You need to hear the rest.”
“Oh, yes.” Darius smiled back.
“Wellington is
not
your biological father. Darryl Williams
is
your father.”
Nodding his head, Darius said, “I can live with that, but Wellington will always be my father.”
“Now for the bad news.” Roxanne paused and looked at Darius. “You’ve contracted syphilis.”
Darius’s eyes widened.
“Not to worry. It’s curable,” Roxanne said.
Darius thought about Heather and Ginger because he’d had sex with both of them in New Orleans without using condoms. After Heather left The House of Blues, Darius spent the night with Ginger in her hotel room. But his test was taken before that. Maxine? Damn!
“Here’s your prescription.” Roxanne slid the white paper across the desk. “I need the names and addresses of your partners so we can advise them to get tested.”
“Why do you assume there’s more than one?” Darius asked.
Roxanne bit on the tip of her pencil. “Yeah, right.”
Roxanne looked sexy with the eraser head in her mouth. Darius proceeded to jot down the information.
“Thanks for your cooperation.” Roxanne picked up her chart and opened the door.
“Let’s go to your place and celebrate,” Ashlee said. “I’ll cook you a wonderful dinner, and we can watch
Baby Boy.
”
Darius thought about the suicide setup and quickly responded, “Let’s eat out. My treat.”
Baby Boy
was actually a good movie selection because the lead actor Jody somewhat reminded Darius of himself. Had he been spared life number nine, or had God blessed him with nine more? Refusing to take any chances, from this day forward, Darius Henry Jones was a new man.
Chapter 34
W
hen a man loved a woman but the woman no longer loved the man, how could she take her final bow with grace? How could someone love another for fifteen years and then suddenly find that person undesirable? Would Jada’s feelings toward Lawrence be the same if Wellington weren’t in the picture?
Rolling over to Lawrence’s side of the bed, Jada stared at his bruises. Last night wasn’t one she wanted to remember, but unfortunately she’d never forget. First Wellington and then Darius: if they hadn’t all been family, she would have called the police herself.
Jada whispered, “Are you okay?”
Opening his right eye, Lawrence said, “I had hoped you’d be gone by now.”
Although it wasn’t her fault, Jada said, “I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen.” She honestly didn’t. Barbaric was not an adjective she wanted describing her character.
Lawrence braced his back against the headboard. “That’s the problem, you never do. Let you tell it, nothing is ever your fault.”
Sitting up in the bed, Jada said, “What does that mean?”
Lawrence closed his eye. “You didn’t mean to lie to Darius. You didn’t mean to lie to Wellington. You didn’t mean to hurt my feelings by asking for a divorce.” Lawrence sighed, then said, “If you were standing before a judge, this would be an open and shut case. You’re starting to sound like a broken record.”
“Well, broke may be the operative word. I might lose everything I’ve worked for. Um. Do you mind if I ask you a question about consultation?” Jada hadn’t involved her corporate attorney. Theo had advised her to wait because if she was sued, she’d need a lawyer who specialized in sexual harassment cases.
“Yes, I do. I don’t believe you have the audacity to ask me for help. But then again, your selfish ass is always thinking of Jada, Jada, Jada. Besides, you know I won’t tell you anything except you’re right. Instead of being unfaithful with Wellington, you should have been paying closer attention to your child. But I guess like mother, like son. Now that you’re in trouble, you expect me to bail you out.” Cramming the pillow underneath his head, Lawrence turned his back.
“Lawrence, I’ve never asked you for one damn thing. Everything that happened to you yesterday you brought upon yourself. If you hadn’t laid your hand on me, none of this would’ve happened. So if you want me feel sorry for you, I don’t. I’m not going to accept the blame for your actions.” Jada tugged the covers.
Pulling back, Lawrence said, “Are you still moving out of the house next weekend? My friend Howard Kees, the best real estate broker in California, has found a buyer.”
Jada looked over at Lawrence and pushed the blanket to his side of the bed. “Doesn’t he live in Oakland?”
“What’s your point?” Lawrence asked.
“Fine. I’m not going to fight you on this one. I said I’d be out, and I will. Just call me when you have my half of the proceeds.” Jada sighed heavily.
Lawrence calmly said “Oh, this house was a gift deed from my parents to me. I’ve always maintained it as separate property. So if you want me to feel sorry for you, I don’t, because you’ll get nothing from me.”
Jada curled the king-size pillow into a tight ball. “Uh, I hate you.” Moving to the edge of the bed, Jada slammed the pillow between them.
“I’m saddened to hear you say that, because I love you with all my heart.” Lawrence stroked her hand.
“Don’t touch me.” Why were separations so ugly? Shit was snowballing downhill faster than the mudslides along Pacific Coast Highway. Maybe she should stay with Wellington or Darius until her belongings were moved out of this house. When the phone rang, Jada reached over to her nightstand and answered, “Hello.”
“Hi, ba. How are you?”
“Fine.” That way Wellington would know Lawrence was nearby. She started to say great just to irritate Lawrence. Just the fact that Wellington had called would upset Lawrence for sure.
“Look, put Lawrence on the phone for a minute,” Wellington said.
Jada handed Lawrence the phone. “It’s for you.”
“Who is it?”
Jada didn’t respond.
Taking the handset, Lawrence said, “Hello.”
“Hey, man. This is Wellington. I want to apologize for what happened yesterday. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“Fuck you! This isn’t over yet. Apologize to the lawsuit I’m about to slap on your fornicating ass!”
“Maybe in time Jada will forgive you, and you’ll forgive me,” Wellington said. “Let me speak with Jada.”
Lawrence tossed the phone in Jada’s direction and left the bedroom.
Jada exhaled and picked up the phone. “Yeah.”
“Has Darius told you the news?”
Jada started pacing the floor. “No. What news?”
“He can tell us together. Can you meet me at his place? I’ll call and let him know we’re coming over.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a few. Bye.”
“Bye, my Nubian princess.”
Jada tossed the phone on the bed. Limping to the bathroom today was more painful than the day before. If she knew the person who created the phrase “Shit Happens,” she’d shake their hand.
Jada waited for Wellington to press Darius’s buzzer. “Did you tell him I was coming with you?”
“Of course. And even if I hadn’t, you’re his mother.” Wellington placed his arm around Jada’s waist.
“Who is it?” Darius’s voice blared from the intercom.
Wellington responded, “It’s your parents, son, let us in.”
Jada whispered to Wellington, “Has he told you already?”
Opening the door, Darius said, “No, I have not. Come on in. Y’all want anything to drink?”
“Y’all, Darius? Please stop speaking like that.” Jada picked up the frame holding their family photo. “Water for me, please.”
“I’ll have the same,” Wellington said.
Darius returned with three empty glasses and three bottles of water. He placed them on his Afrocentric coffee table and sat next to Wellington. “Well, I guess you guys want to know what I already know. Darryl is my biological father and my HIV test was negative.”
Jada joined them on the sofa and sat next to Darius. She stretched her arms open and was happy when Darius leaned his head on her shoulder. Wellington wrapped his arms around both of them. For a while no one spoke.
Darius stood and said, “That’s enough. Now everything is out in the open.”
Jada asked, “How’s Maxine?”
“I stopped by her place earlier. Physically, she looks fine. Emotionally, she’s depressed. How’s Lawrence?”
“I’m not so sure.” Jada toyed with her watch.
“Why do you always have to mess up everybody’s life?” Darius carried the empty bottles to the kitchen and returned.
Wellington calmly said, “Son, your mother didn’t deserve that. Apologize.”
“And you’re no better. Why are you always protecting her?” Darius sat on the opposite side of the table.
Jada stood. “I think I’d better go.”
“No, sit,” Wellington said. “You can’t keep running from the truth. We’re a family, and we’re going to speak our minds so we can heal our hearts.”
Jada reluctantly sat down. Darius’s words had chopped her into confetti. Her body went numb as she nodded and silently cried. Darius resented Darryl, and he didn’t even know him. Her child was hurting much more than she’d imagined, so was Wellington. Jada thought about what Lawrence must have been going through as well. Her daddy’s wisdom whispered softly in her ear, “Be true to yourself and the others will heal.”